Combined lock and check-clasp



H. J. WELCH. COMBINED LOCK AND CHECK CLASP.

(No Model.)

Patented May 23, 1893.

. preventing tampering with the lock.

and other pieces of property and also to enafter described. In itssimplest form it em- UNITED STATES .HENRY JUSTUS WELCH, OF CARTI'IAGE,

ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF 'lO CALVIN V. GRAVES, OF NATURAL BRIDGE, NEW YORK.

COMBINED LOCK AND CHECK-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,972, dated May 23,1893.

Application filed February 27, 1893.

To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, HENRY JUSTUS WELCH,a citizen of the United States,residing at Carthage, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Lock andCheck-Clasp; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled1n the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and usef'ul improvements in claspsdesigned primarily for use in the protection and identitication ofproperty against loss by accident or theft, or otherwise.

Experience has fully demonstrated the fact that small articles, such forinstance as overshoes, rubbers, umbrellas,satchels and the like whichare temporarily left in stores, boarding houses, hotels, cars and otherplaces are subject to loss by the appropriation thereof by persons whoby accident or intent take the said articles, and in the case of thelatter are always ready with the excuse that such appropriation was amistaken identity, and thus they are exempt from prosecution for theft.In order to avoid this plea of mistaken identity and at the same time tolay the foundation for the better protection of such articles able oneto better identify his own among many others I have devised the clasphereinbodies a piece of material having a spring connection between itstwo halves or like portions and upon the one or both spurs or teeth toengage in the article to which it is to be attached, and a lock forholding the clasp in its closed position. The name and residence of theowner may be affixed upon the clasp in any suitable way. Means areprovided for The clasp may be made as ornamental as tastes may dictate.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appearand the novel Serial No. l1:63.905. (No model.)

features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification and in which--` Figure l is a perspective View of myimproved lock clasp ina position nearly closed. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview with the same thrown open. Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on 6o anenlarged scale, of the lock mechanism.

Like letters .of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

My improved clasp may be made of any suitable material or combination ofmaterials;

y I preferably form it of a single piece of spring metal and at thecenter thereof form it with a circular curvature as at a which forms aspring by the resiliency of the material and also extends the sides A Ato admit of the 7o insertion of fabrics or other materials and alsoprovides space for the lock mechanism. I may sometimes employ anadditional spring B at the same bend or curvature as seen in Fig. 2.

On one or both of the leaves of the clasp near its free edgeI providethe spurs or teeth b as seen in Figs. l and 2 to engage in the articlebeing held and hold firmly thereto; these spurs may be made in anysuitable way, as 8o for instance by stamping up the metal of which theclasp is formed.

Upon the outer face of one of the leaves or halves of the clasp may beaffixed the name and if desired the residence of the user; spaces cbeing provided for that purposeas seen in Fig. l. The entire device maybe made Iire proof and used upon the suspender or other article ofclothing to be a means of identification in case of death in a railroadaccident or 9o the like. In order to hold the two leaves or halves intheir closed position I provide a peculiar lock. It consists of a bolt Dadapted to slide in openings in the bearings E fastened to the innerface of one of the leaves as seen in Fig. 2 and actuated by a spiralspring F as is seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The bolt is limited in itsmovements by the standards G and I-I one near each edge of the leaf andwhich serve also as guards against the picking of roo the lock. Upon theinner face of the other leaf is a catch I adapted to engage and move thebolt against the tension of the spring when the leaves are broughttogether and then the bolt is forced by its spring through the catch andthe parts are held in their closed position.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the inf Vention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim as new is- Tl'e herein described lock clasp formed of asingle piece of metal bent at its center, a

spring at the bend, spurs upon the inner face of one leaf near its freevend, bearings on the 15

